Sarah joined the centre in 2011, bringing considerable experience in hybrid roles of scientific coordination and research linked to the major international global change programmes. She was a science manager for the UK NERC's QUEST, a multi-consortium programme for Earth system science, hosted by the University of Bristol. Previously, she worked in various centres at the University of East Anglia, progressively building up experience in use-oriented transdisciplinary sustainability research. Her research background is in marine and atmospheric biogeochemistry (PhD awarded in 1996), and environmental assessment, management and governance.

Her current research has a particular focus on conceptualisations of humans in the Earth system. Her main interests are in obtaining a multidimensional understanding of anthropogenic global changes and the associated changes in risks, and the philosophy and methodology of integrative research.